FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

RISING

Chansi Stuckey, Jets – Brett Favre is well known for having a ‘favorite’ receiver. Sure, that may not be the guy who gets the most catches, or has the biggest games, but when it’s crunch time he’s the guy Favre is looking for. After two weeks it would appear that ‘that’ guy in NY for Favre is Stuckey. His stat line looks something like this after two weeks. Six catches, eighty yards, two touchdowns, and yes, it was split at one score each week. This spells consistency and touchdowns, and with Favre at the controls this could very well keep up most of the season.

Ike Hilliard, Buccaneers – He isn’t going to be flashy, and he isn’t going to be at the top of the end of season rankings, but ten catches for almost one-hundred yards and a touchdown in two weeks makes him worthy of a fantasy roster spot. It is rare that Tampa receivers light it up anyway, so those numbers are almost considered ‘solid’ considering where they’re coming from. He’s a savvy veteran who may be able to help your team with the upcoming bye weeks.

James Jones, Packers – After being shut out in week one, he had a significant role this weekend. It must be noted that they were playing Detroit, however, with the Green Bay running game not as strong as it seemingly could be, the passing game looks to be active all season and Rodgers is looking quite good, all things considered. These elements all add up to making Jones a solid depth grab and bye week spot starter at the very least. If Driver or Jennings goes down at some point in the season (not out of the realm of possibility the way injuries have been happening this year) he’d be the beneficiary of those receptions.

Brandon Lloyd, Bears – Before you go ballistic, we realize Lloyd is a receiver for Chicago. Now that this has been established, realize that this column tries to point out receivers that may be able to help your team a bit – or more than a bit – and that are not your ‘big name’ players, but rather those who the common guy, or gal, may not be as familiar with. Here is the stat you need to know about Lloyd. In two weeks with Chicago, the Bears mind you, he has seven receptions…and is averaging 13 yards per reception. Point being, if you are in a deep league there are worse options.

John Carlson (TE), Seahawks – Another guy who is quietly averaging 13 yards a reception with ten catches is John Carlson. The key here is that he’s in a situation where the team literally is running out of receivers – of any kind! With this in mind, at least for the next few weeks until the team gets some people back from injury, Carlson makes an interesting pickup who can help even more in PPR leagues.

FALLING

Donald Driver, Packers – He’s becoming an almost forgotten man in fantasy football, but he is still playing – and performing – at least a little bit. He’s had 11 receptions and a touchdown, but after two weeks where the Green Bay offense has done quite well, he’s been somewhat quiet. He shouldn’t be dropped, by any means, but he’s becoming borderline as to whether or not you should start him every week.

Jericho Cotchery, Jets – Cotchery should have put in some more impressive time considering the situation he’s in this year. Instead he’s been barely on the radar. With Favre favoring Stuckey and with Coles still the number one receiver, Cotchery is becoming the odd man out. He may still put up a good week here or there, but his value is declining so far. If you have no better option, play him, but if you don’t have to, there are better choices to be made.

The Receiver Formerly Known As Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals – It now appears that the once vaunted Cincy offensive machine has rusted into a creaky old heap, and unless something drastic happens and soon, no one from this group will be worth even having on a roster. This may be too soon to count out guys like Johnson, err…Ocho Cinco, and T.J. but a slide is definitely a must at this point. The production, or should I say lack of it, these guys have had over the first two weeks is nothing less than an insult to where they both were drafted this year.